Also known as "rudie." Hip-hop cultured stereotype originating in the London area and its surrounding counties, but has now spread to other "ghetto" area's in the UK such as Manchester, Nottingham, and Birmingham. The "rude" part of the name does not directly imply they are unpleasant people. It stems from the Caribbean word "rude" meaninng "hip" or "cool."

Consisted originally of Asians (Bangladeshi's, Indians, etc) and Afro-Caribbeans (Jamaicans, West Indians, etc) but now other races are much more common, such as Africans, native whites, and eastern europeans.

Rudeboys commonly wear jeans and hooded jumpers, and sometimes hooded tracksuits. Baggy clothes is a must. New Era caps and skullys are common. The cap is sometimes worn at unusual angles, or the hood is up. Common brands are Lot29, Akademiks, Avirex, Ecko, Nike, Adidas, Scarface, Time Is Money, Jordan, Phat Farm, Rocawear, Boxfresh and New Era. Sometimes non-designer clothes are worn as most rudeboys come from very impoverished backgrounds.

Unfortunately, many rudeboys grow up to become drug dealers/gang members. Some lose the attitude and leave the city/join the army to become respectable citizens.

There is a clear difference between "chavs" and "rudeboys." These differences are :
- Rudeboys do not pick fights with random people, and actually exhibit little anti-social behaviour.
- Rudeboys have urban, and generally very bad, upbringings.
- Chavs will talk with an exaggerated cockney accent, even if they are not from a cockney area. Rudeboys talk "ghetto."
- Some rudeboys can be very pleasant people. Chavs feel the need to be anti-social.
- Rudeboys wear baggy, flashy clothing. Chavs wear tight, bland polyester tracksuits.
- Chavs will always travel in a group. Rudeboys often go around alone, even when they are expecting to fight.
- Chavs mostly stop exhibiting chav behaviour as they get older. Some rudeboys remain this way well into their adult life.

For good examples of rudeboys, see films such as Bullet Boy or Kidulthood.

Along with his female counterpart -the Rude Girl- 'Rudys' as they are called in the ska scene were developed by the first ska bands to mimic the depression(or) post war gansters of america. The word 'Rude' is refrenced to Jamaican culture where it is slang for mischevious or obscene.

A Rude Boy's attire would include a white button up and thin tie under a closed black blazer top with matching dress pants, A Black Ferdora with an occasional white stripe of fabric, and to top it off, sunglasses and classy skankin' boots- or loafers.

Normally associated with the traditional two-tone ska scene, Rude Boys can now be seen as a nostalgic tribute for the more modern 3rd wave ska followers.

Him: "I think this guy showed up at the wrong joint, whys he wearing sunglasses?"
That Guy: "He's gotta be a Rude Boy"
Him: "..."
That Guy: "does he have a 9mm?"
Him: "AND a 3-piece suit"
That Guy: "Yup hes gotta be a Rude boy"

1. An avid listener of ska music, especially that of "traditional" and "2-tone" waves of ska.
2. A "gangster" (not to be confused with a "gangstah") usually dressed in a suit and "gangster hat" or bowler; a trouble maker of the 1960's-1980's. (often British "gangsters").
3. The original definition, Jamaican gangsters, boys who caused trouble and were known as "rude" because of their attitudes.

1. Check out that rudeboy skank to the ska music!
2. Wow that rudeboy has some really slick gangster clothes, I want a hat like that!
3. That rudeboy down the street was just arrested again!

Originally Jamaican slang from the 1960's, the word "Rudeboy" has seem to taken on a life of it's own in the streets of London and other poor areas of the UK/NYC. A Rudeboy can be anyone from a typical street thug who snatches chains, to the top dog gangster who runs the streets.(Although as of the past 7 or 8 years the word can be used to describe kids who wear caps or hoodies and drive around in cars smoking weed). This slang word was at it's peak during the 90's and is still used throughout the UK although due to the U.S' evergrowing influence on the UK, other words are used just as much, if not more...such as "G"(G for Gangter). Rudeboy is mostly heard in these Genres...Garage/Grime, Ragga/Dancehall, Jungle/Drum and Bass, And as of recently Hip hop/Rap.

1.In the 60's in jamaica, they were the ones who went to sound system shows and the like, and were very violent. They wore suits and pork-pie hats to imitate the rich. The were basically the gangsters of that time and place. They were also the first Jamaican youth subculture. When they went to America they influenced the skins there.
2. When they influenced those kids, two-tone (second wave) ska started. A rudie after that point is a person who supports ska music, is a fan of checkers (symbolized black and white unity), suits, pork-pie hats, etc. They are not violent or criminal like the rude boys of Jamaica. They like to skank. (a dance done to ska music.
3. Refers to (both white and black) lower-class youth in Britain that like to follow the trends and new fashions from Africa. Also sometimes called chavs or townies.

1. The rude boys started a huge riot at the sound system show last night.